Good Deeds

The Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce presented a check to Habitat Humanity of Greater Portland. A portion of the proceeds from the recent chamber-sponsored 2011 Freeport Kitchen Tour event was designated for the Freeport “Women Build” project through Habitat for Humanity.

Oakhurst Dairy and the Maine Red Claws announced that they will join forces to help support Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine. During the upcoming season, Oakhurst Dairy will donate $500 to the Clubs each time the Maine Red Claws score more than 100 points at one of the team’s 24 home games. Oakhurst has pledged to donate up to $5,000.

The Planet Dog Foundation, a Portland-based nonprofit organization, awarded a $10,000 grant to Maine Medical Center to fund its therapy dog program for the next three years. The hospital has an active team of 37 trained volunteer handlers and 41 dogs that visit most units in the hospital, including the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. The grant will be used to provide materials for existing teams and to expand the program to 50 dogs. The Foundation awarded 10 grants to canine service organizations in celebration of 10 years of giving.

Town and Country Federal Credit Union Maine recently awarded $5,000 to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland as a part of their Better Neighbor Fund Contest.

Falmouth Sea Grill will be a drop-off location this holiday season for Toys for Tots. People can drop off new, unwrapped toys for kids of all ages from Dec. 1-14 at the Falmouth Sea Grill 215 Foreside Road, Falmouth. For more information visit toysfortots.org

SolAmore Hospice of South Portland teamed up with volunteers from Biddeford’s 50 Plus Club to ensure that ten needy families would have a happy Thanksgiving. Employees from SolAmor and volunteers from the 50 Plus Club donated turkeys, stuffing, potatoes and all the fixings to fill baskets delivered to families in the area.

Awards

Kate Anagnostis, a massage therapist from Brunswick, was selected to receive the Meritorious Award from the Maine Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association. The award honors one member from each chapter who has volunteered in an altruistic manner. Anagnostis has been an athletic trainer since 1983 and broadened her professional skills and graduated from the Downeast School of Massage where she now teaches sports massage. She volunteered with the Athens Sports Massage Team for the Athens Summer Olympics and has worked with high school, collegiate, professional and Olympic athletes. She is also the massage therapy coordinator for the TDBank Beach to Beacon 10k and the athletic trainer at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham.

KeyBank awarded Anne Walp, executive director and founder of Casa, with the Key4Women Achieve Award during its annual Key4Women Forum. The Achieve Award is given to a woman entrepreneur who successfully executes her business vision; contributes meaningfully to the community; and shows a strong willingness to serve as a model and resource to other women entrepreneurs. Walp founded the nonprofit Casa in 1979. Its mission is to support a warm, nurturing environment that promotes growth and independence for children and adults with developmental disabilities throughout Cumberland County.

Ruth J. Libby, CEO and founder of Ruth’s Reusable Resources was awarded the Maine Principals Association Golden Apple Award for her work to help teachers. Founded in 1994, Ruth’s Reusable Resources began with the concept of taking unwanted items from businesses and individuals and making them available for teachers to use in their classrooms. Through her efforts, she has educated a community that re-purposing, re-using, and recycling benefits everyone. In 18 years, Ruth’s Reusable Resources has given away more than $37 million worth of furniture, paper, books, office supplies, and computers to Maine schools and nonprofits.

Denise Douglas of Clark Insurance received Safeco Insurance’s Award of Excellence. The award is given to insurance agents recognized for outstanding underwriting results and business production for the nationwide property and casualty insurer.

Susan Gallo, of the Maine Audubon in Falmouth, received a national conservation fellowship that will allow her to advance conservation of at-risk species and habitats in Maine. As a TogetherGreen Fellow, Gallo will expand Maine Audubon’s citizen science program and will work with local middle and high school students to conduct “Healthy Lake Check Ups” for lakeside property owners.

Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley, of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, recently announced the recipients of the Maine Judicial Branch performance awards for 2011. Ravi Jackson, of Brunswick, was recognized as the Outstanding Judicial Employee of the Year, an award conferred on a person who, during the course of the preceding year, has best exemplified the qualities of competence in providing court services, commitment to the public service, respect, courtesy to fellow employees and members of the public, and a willingness to learn and grow. Sherry Wilkins of Cape Elizabeth received the Judicial Branch Career Performance Award, given to the person who consistently contributes above and beyond expected job responsibilities to further the Judicial Branch mission.